Copy of `Dorland's Medical Dictionary`

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Dorland's Medical Dictionary Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Dictionary Date & country: 31/12/2010, USA Words: 39128

psychedelic drugs
chemical substances that produce hallucinations, distortions of perception, and sometimes psychotic-like behavior; see also psychedelic.

psychiatrist
(si-ki´ә-trist) a physician who specializes in psychiatry.

psychiatry
(si-ki´ә-tre) the branch of health science that deals with the study, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. adj., psychiat´ric., adj.

psychic
(si´kik) pertaining to the psyche. mental (def. 1).

psychic blindness
visual agnosia.

psychic reflex
a reflex aroused by a stored-up impression of memory, such as the secretion of saliva at the sight or thought of good-tasting food.

psychoactive
(si″ko-ak´tiv) affecting the mind or behavior; see psychoactive substance. Called also psychotropic.

psychoactive agent
psychotropic agent psychoactive SUBSTANCE.

psychoactive drug
psychotropic drug psychoactive substance.

psychoactive substance
psychotropic substance any chemical compound that affects the mind or mental processes, particularly a drug used therapeutically in psychiatry, or any of various other types of mind-altering substances such as drugs of abuse and some toxins (see drug abuse and drug dependence).Classes of psychoactive substances include antidepre...

psychoactive substance abuse
substance abuse.

psychoactive substance dependence
drug dependence.

psychoanaleptic
(si″ko-an″ә-lep´tik) exerting a stimulating effect on the mind.

psychoanalysis
(si″ko-ә-nal´ĭ-sis) a system of theoretical psychology and psychotherapy formulated by Sigmund Freud to analyze mental processes and mental disorders, based on recognition of unconscious mental processes such as resistance, repression, and transference, and of the importance of infantile experience as a deter...

psychoanalyst
(si″ko-an´ә-list) a practitioner of psychoanalysis.

psychobiology
(si″ko-bi-ol´ә-je) a field of study examining the relationship between brain and mind, studying the effect of biological influences on psychological functioning or mental processes. Called also biopsychology. a psychiatric theory in which the human being is viewed as an integrated unit, incorpo...

psychocardiac reflex
increase in the pulse rate on recalling an individual emotional experience.

psychocortical
(si″ko-kor´tĭ-kәl) pertaining to the mind and to the cortex of the brain as the site of mental functions.

psychodiagnosis
(si″ko-di″әg-no´sis) the diagnostic use of psychologic testing.

Psychodopygus
(si″ko-do-pi´gus) a genus of sandflies of the family Psychodidae. P. wellco´mei is a vector of Leishmania donovani, the etiologic agent of visceral leishmaniasis.

psychodrama
(si″ko-drah´mә) a form of group psychotherapy in which patients dramatize their own or assigned life situations in order to achieve insight into personalities, relationships, conflicts, and emotional problems, and to alter faulty behavior patterns.

psychodynamics
(si″ko-di-nam´iks) the science of mental forces and motivations that influence human behavior and mental activity, including recognition of the role of unconscious motivation in human behavior.

psychogalvanic reflex
decreased electrical resistance of the body due to emotional or mental agitation.

psychogenesis
(si″ko-jen´ә-sis) mental development. the production of a symptom or illness by psychic factors.

psychogenic
(si″ko-jen´ik) having an emotional or psychologic origin. See also psychosomatic.

psychogenic alopecia
hair loss owing to severe emotional stress; it is often of the alopecia areata type. Called also stress alopecia.

psychogenic amnesia
dissociative amnesia.

psychogenic impotence
psychological impotence impotence that has an emotional or psychological cause, as opposed to organic impotence. Called also male erectile disorder.

psychogenic pain
symptoms of physical pain having psychological origin; see pain disorder.

psychogram
(si´ko-gram) psychograph. a visual sensation associated with a mental idea, such as a certain number which appears visualized when it is thought of.

psychograph
(si´ko-graf) a chart for recording graphically the personality traits of an individual. a written description of the mental functioning of an individual.

psychokinesis
(si″ko-kĭ-ne´sis) the postulated production or alteration of motion by directed thought processes.

psycholinguistics
(si″ko-ling-gwis´tiks) the study of psychological factors involved in the development and use of language.

psychological adaptation
the ongoing process, anchored in the emotions and intellect, by which humans sustain a balance in their mental and emotional states of being and in their interactions with their social and cultural environments.

psychological dependence
drug dependence in which the drug is used to obtain relief from tension or emotional discomfort; called also emotional dependence.

psychological tests
(si″ko-loj´ĭ-kal) any test to measure such factors as a person's development, achievement, personality, intelligence, and thought processes.

psychologist
(si-kol´ә-jist) a qualified specialist in psychology.

psychology
(si-kol´ә-je) the science dealing with the mind and mental processes, especially in relation to human and animal behavior. adj., psycholog´ic, psycholog´ical., adj.

psychometrician
(si″ko-mә-trish´әn) a person skilled in psychometry.

psychometrics
(si″ko-met´riks) psychometry.

psychometry
(si-kom´ә-tre) the testing and measuring of mental and psychological ability, efficiency, potentials, and functioning. adj., psychomet´ric., adj.

psychomotor
(si″ko-mo´tәr) pertaining to motor effects of cerebral or psychic activity.

psychomotor epilepsy
temporal lobe epilepsy.

psychomotor test
a test that assesses the subject's ability to perceive instructions and perform motor responses often including measurement of the speed of the reaction.

psychoneural
(si″ko-noor´әl) relating to the totality of neural events initiated by a sensory input and leading to storage, to discrimination, or an output of any kind.

psychoneurosis
(si″ko-ndbobr-ro´sis) neurosis. adj., psychoneurot´ic., adj.

psychonomy
(si″kon-o´me) the science of the laws of mental activity.

psychopath
(si´ko-path) old term for a person with an antisocial personality disorder.

psychopathology
(si″ko-pә-thol´ә-je) the branch of medicine dealing with the causes and processes of mental disorders. abnormal, maladaptive behavior or mental activity.

psychopathy
(si-kop´ә-the) older term for a mental disorder, sometimes specifically antisocial personality disorder. adj., psychopath´ic.

psychopharmacology
(si″ko-fahr″mә-kol´ә-je) the study of the action of drugs on psychological functions and mental states. the use of drugs to modify psychological functions and mental states. adj., psychopharmacolog´ic., adj.

psychophysical
(si″ko-fiz´ĭ-kәl) pertaining to the mind and its relation to physical manifestations.

psychophysics
(si″ko-fiz´iks) scientific study of the quantitative relations between characteristics or patterns of physical stimuli and the sensations induced by them.

psychophysiology
(si″ko-fiz″e-ol´ә-je) physiologic psychology. adj., psychophysiolog´ic., adj.

psychoplegic
(si″ko-ple´jik) an agent lessening cerebral activity or excitability.

psychoprophylaxis
(si″ko-pro″fĭ-lak´sis) a method of prepared childbirth using mental and physical training aimed at preventing pain and modifying the perception of painful sensations associated with normal uncomplicated childbirth; see also Lamaze method. adj., psychoprophylac´tic., adj.

psychosensory
(si″ko-sen´sә-re) perceiving and interpreting sensory stimuli.

psychosexual
(si″ko-sek´shoo-әl) pertaining to the mental or emotional aspects of sex.

psychosexual development
generally, the development of the psychological aspects of sexuality from birth to maturity. In psychoanalytic theory, the development of object relations has five stages: the oral stage from birth to 2 years, the anal stage from 2 to 4 years, the phallic stage from 4 to 6 years, the latency stage from 6 years until pub...

psychosexual disorders
sexual disorders (def. 2).

psychosis
(si-ko´sis) pl. psycho´ses a state in which a person's mental capacity to recognize reality, communicate, and relate to others is impaired, thus interfering with the capacity to deal with life demands. Mental disorders in which psychotic symptoms may be present include mood disorders, schizophrenia, brief psychotic disor...

psychosocial
(si″ko-so´shәl) pertaining to or involving both psychic and social aspects.

psychosomatic
(si″ko-so-mat´ik) pertaining to the interrelations of mind and body; having bodily symptoms of psychic, emotional, or mental origin.

psychosomatic disorder
a disorder in which the physical symptoms are caused or worsened by psychological factors. Examples are migraine, lower back pain, and irritable bowel syndrome. Many factors, including psychological ones, play a role in the development of nearly all illnesses, and the physical symptoms of an illness, unless caused by mechanical...

psychosomatic medicine
a system of medicine that aims at discovering the nature of the relationship of the emotions and bodily function, affirming the principle that the mind and body are one, as well as emphasizing psychosocial aspects of medical care.

psychostimulant
(si″ko-stim´u-lәnt) producing a transient increase in psychomotor activity. a drug that produces such effects, such as amphetamine, methylphenidate, or caffeine.

psychosurgery
(si″ko-sur´jәr-e) brain surgery done to treat psychiatric disorders. adj., psychosur´gical., adj.

psychotherapy
(si″ko-ther´ә-pe) any of a number of related techniques for treating mental disorders by psychologic methods. They all rely mainly on establishing a relationship between the therapist and the patient in order to develop the patient's insight into the motivation behind his or her behavior. If drugs are used, ...

psychotic
(si-kot´ik) pertaining to, characterized by, or caused by psychosis. a person exhibiting psychosis.

psychotic depression
strictly, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, such as hallucinations, delusions, mutism, or stupor. The term is often used more broadly to cover all severe depressions causing gross impairment of social or occupational functioning.

psychotic disorder
psychosis.

psychotogenic
(si-kot″o-jen´ik) psychotomimetic.

psychotomimetic
(si-kot″o-mĭ-met´ik) characterized by or producing symptoms similar to those of a psychosis. a drug or other agent that has such effects; called also psychotogenic.

psychotropic
(si″ko-tro´pik) psychoactive. psychoactive substance.

psychroalgia
(si″kro-al´jә) a painful sensation of cold.

psychrometer
(si-krom´ә-tәr) an instrument for measuring the moisture of the atmosphere.

psychrophile
(si´kro-fīl) a psychrophilic organism.

psychrophilic
(si″kro-fil´ik) fond of cold; said of bacteria that grow best in the cold (15° – 20° C).

psychrotherapy
(si″kro-ther´ah-pe) treatment of disease by applying cold.

psyllium
(sil´e-әm) a plant of the genus Plantago. the husk (psyllium husk) or seed (plantago or psyllium seed) of various species of Plantago; used as a bulk-forming laxative. See also psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid.

Pt
platinum.

pt
pint.

PTA
plasma thromboplastin antecedent (factor XI).

ptarmic
(tahr´mik) causing sneezing.

ptarmus
(tahr´mәs) spasmodic sneezing.

PTC
plasma thromboplastin component (factor IX, one of the coagulation factors.

PTCA
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

pteroylglutamic acid
(ter″o-әl-gloo-tam´ik) folic acid.

pterygium
(tә-rij´e-әm) a winglike structure, especially an abnormal triangular fold of membrane in the interpalpebral fissure, extending from the conjunctiva to the cornea. pterygium colli webbed neck.

pterygium syndrome
multiple pterygium s.

pterygoid
(ter´ĭ-goid) shaped like a wing.

pterygoid bone
pterygoid process.

pterygoid canal
a canal in the sphenoid bone transmitting the pterygoid vessels and nerves.

pterygoid process
either of the two processes of the sphenoid bone, descending from the points of junction of the great wings and the body of the bone, and each consisting of a lateral and a medial plate.

pterygomandibular
(ter″ĭ-go-man-dib´u-lәr) pertaining to the pterygoid process and the mandible.

pterygomaxillary
(ter″ĭ-go-mak´sĭ-lar-e) pertaining to a pterygoid process and the maxilla.

pterygopalatine
(ter″ĭ-go-pal´ә-tīn) pertaining to a pterygoid process and the palatine bone.

pterygopalatine canal
a passage in the sphenoid and palatine bones for the greater palatine vessels and nerve.

pterygopalatine foramen
greater palatine foramen. sphenopalatine foramen.

pterygopalatine ganglion
a parasympathetic ganglion in a fossa in the sphenoid bone, formed by postganglionic cell bodies that synapse with preganglionic fibers from the fascial nerve via the nerve of the pterygopalatine canal. Called also sphenopalatine ganglion.